Indonesian MotoGP, Mandalika - Free Practice (1) Results

Free Practice (1) results from the Indonesian MotoGP at Mandalika, round 2 of the 2022 world championship.

18 Mar 2022

Pol Espargaro, Indonesian MotoGP, 18 March 2022
© Gold and Goose

Indonesian MotoGP, Mandalika - Free Practice (1) Results
Pos	Rider	Nat	Team	Time/Diff	Lap	Max
1	Pol Espargaro	SPA	Repsol Honda (RC213V)	1'33.499s	17/17	309k
2	Miguel Oliveira	POR	Red Bull KTM (RC16)	+0.044s	22/22	307k
3	Marc Marquez	SPA	Repsol Honda (RC213V)	+0.079s	16/16	307k
4	Franco Morbidelli	ITA	Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1)	+0.382s	16/19	303k
5	Johann Zarco	FRA	Pramac Ducati (GP22)	+0.743s	20/20	309k
6	Aleix Espargaro	SPA	Aprilia Racing (RS-GP)	+0.753s	14/15	308k
7	Brad Binder	RSA	Red Bull KTM (RC16)	+0.776s	20/21	307k
8	Enea Bastianini	ITA	Gresini Ducati (GP21)	+0.828s	17/17	309k
9	Francesco Bagnaia	ITA	Ducati Lenovo (GP22)	+0.858s	21/21	306k
10	Joan Mir	SPA	Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)	+0.980s	18/18	306k
11	Jack Miller	AUS	Ducati Lenovo (GP22)	+1.063s	19/20	305k
12	Andrea Dovizioso	ITA	WithU Yamaha RNF (YZR-M1)	+1.093s	16/18	303k
13	Raul Fernandez	SPA	KTM Tech3 (RC16)*	+1.177s	18/19	305k
14	Takaaki Nakagami	JPN	LCR Honda (RC213V)	+1.208s	16/16	307k
15	Maverick Viñales	SPA	Aprilia Racing (RS-GP)	+1.216s	20/21	309k
16	Fabio Quartararo	FRA	Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1)	+1.294s	19/21	302k
17	Alex Rins	SPA	Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)	+1.394s	21/21	306k
18	Alex Marquez	SPA	LCR Honda (RC213V)	+1.398s	17/18	305k
19	Remy Gardner	AUS	KTM Tech3 (RC16)*	+1.687s	18/18	302k
20	Marco Bezzecchi	ITA	Mooney VR46 Ducati (GP21)*	+1.759s	21/21	306k
21	Jorge Martin	SPA	Pramac Ducati (GP22)	+2.026s	17/17	304k
22	Luca Marini	ITA	Mooney VR46 Ducati (GP22)	+3.272s	18/18	302k
23	Fabio Di Giannantonio	ITA	Gresini Ducati (GP21)*	+3.339s	19/19	303k
24	Darryn Binder	RSA	WithU Yamaha RNF (YZR-M1)*	+3.617s	18/19	303k

* Rookie

Fastest Mandalika pre-season testing time:
Pol Espargaro SPA Honda 1m 31.060s

Pol Espargaro and Honda repeated their Mandalika testing form to lead the MotoGP field during opening practice for the Indonesian Grand Prix, as just 0.079s covered the top three.

Despite substantial damp patches from earlier rain, (the revised) slick tyres were suitable from the start of the FP1 session, although some riders were in no rush to head out.

Ducati's Jack Miller held an early 2.5s advantage with the Repsol Hondas of Espargaro and team-mate Marc Marquez briefly establishing themselves at the head of the timesheets by the middle stages of the 45-minutes.

Lap times continued to tumble with Johann Zarco, Marc Marquez, Pol Espargaro, Franco Morbidelli and Miguel Oliveira all taking turns at the top before Espargaro delivered his 1m 33.499s morning best.

Most riders chose the soft front and medium rear tyre combination, with Morbidelli and fellow Yamaha rider Andrea Dovizioso among the few to spend time on the soft rear.

Morbidelli's Monster team-mate and reigning champion Fabio Quartararo did some late laps on the hard front, but was only 16th and returned to the pits looking unhappy.

The unpredictable weather meant most riders pushed for a fast time in the closing stages.

Qatar winner Enea Bastianini (Gresini Ducati) was last with ten minutes remaining before posting the eighth-best time.

Despite the tricky conditions, there were no fallers.

MotoGP's only prior track time at Mandalika came during the dusty three-day test in February, after which emergency resurfacing was required on around 25% of the circuit, from Turn 17 (the final corner) until after Turn 5.

In response to tyre overheating issues at the test, Michelin has brought a different, heat-resistant, casing that was last used at Buriram 2018.

Due to the moisture, Espargaro's best testing lap was not threatened this morning. As the track dried, there was also a clear distinction between a thin, clean racing line and dirty off-line conditions.

This weekend's event marks the first Indonesian motorcycle grand prix since Sentul in 1997.

Friday schedule - Mandalika

Moto3 Free Practice 1: 08:50-9:30 (00:50-01:30 UK)
Moto2 Free Practice 1: 09:50-10:30 (01:50 -02:30 UK)
MotoGP Free Practice 1: 10:50-11:35 (02.50-03.35 UK)

Moto3 Free Practice 2: 13:05-13:45 (05:05-05.45 UK)
Moto2 Free Practice 2: 14:05-14:45 (06.05-06:45 UK)
MotoGP Free Practice 2: 15:05-15:50 (07:05-07:50 UK)

By Peter McLaren